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As a journalist I have written about social issues and international affairs for the Guardian, the Independent, New Internationalist, Huffington Post, Equal Times and the Big Issue in the North, among other titles. I now work at the University of Leeds as a qualified careers professional, helping international students fulfill their career ambitions

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(Originally Published by Equal Times)Translations: Español | Francais An online campaign to save the only museum in England
documenting the history of working people has received mass support following
news that it faces £200,000 cuts in government funding. In 2010 the Coalition government announced that it would cut
funding to a number of museums across the UK. Among them is the People’s History Museum in Manchester which
faces 20% cuts by 2015.

The museum contains a collection of printed material, physical objects
and photographs which celebrate the lives of working people anddocuments the history ofdemocratic movementsinBritain
over the last 200 years.

Its
staff have been seeking alternative sponsorship but with the cuts fast
approaching there are concerns that they may not be able to make up the
shortfall in time. Melissa Bassil, a supporter of the museum who created an
online petition on the website 38degrees.org told Equal Times the government should seriously consider reversing the…

In 2008, 15-year-old Jordan Cunliffe was sentenced to life in prison for murder. Although the judge accepted he was blind and took no part in the violence that led to the victim's death, he was convicted under a controversial law known as joint enterprise. Mischa Wilmers speaks to his mother about the fight for justice and why her campaign for urgent legal reform is gathering momentum. Janet
Cunliffe is sitting on the living room sofa anxiously awaiting her son’s prison
call. “Jordan phones home every day at six,” she says, adding that he rarely talks
to the media and is unlikely to make an exception for me. Suddenly the phone
rings and she answers it. They chat for several minutes before she mentions that
a journalist wants to speak to him. It’s obvious he’s reluctant, but after some
persuasion she hands over the phone.

We exchange
pleasantries and I ask what life is like in prison. “Boring. Every day is the
same,” he replies. Is…